Quarterfinalists Announced for Wicomico Teacher of the Year
Educators from throughout Wicomico County Public Schools are being recognized for excellence–having been named quarterfinalists for 2025-2026 Wicomico Teacher of the Year. On Thursday, one quarterfinalist from each school, and the top-scoring teacher from Special Programs, will be named the semifinalists for Wicomico Teacher of the Year. Semifinalists will go on to take part in scored activities: the Fishbowl public speaking event, a writing prompt,
and an interview with a blue ribbon panel of judges who are all former Wicomico Teachers of the Year. Scores from these activities will tallied to determine the four finalists for Teacher of the Year, and the 2025-2026 Wicomico Teacher of the Year. All of the semifinalists will be celebrated and the finalists and winner will be named at the Wicomico Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 10th.
Additional Information and List of Names:
All of the semifinalists will be celebrated and the finalists and winner will be named at the
Wicomico Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 10. The second-year Rising Star finalists and winner will also be celebrated, and the teachers of the year for each Special Program will be recognized. The Wicomico Teacher of the Year Celebration is a few months away, but already we know that the next Wicomico Teacher of the Year is one of the teachers listed here as a quarterfinalist.
Congratulations to all the quarterfinalists!
Quarterfinalists for Wicomico Teacher of the Year
(listed alphabetically for each school)
Beaver Run Elementary: Cierra Elzey, Jenna Taylor, Christopher Wallace
Bennett Middle: Candice Bailey, Deanna Marshall, Elvira Ogburn
Charles H. Chipman Elementary: Jennifer Hare, Kathryn Miller, Shelley Smith
Delmar Elementary: Kara Bowden, Kyle Brown, Ashley Mallory
East Salisbury Elementary: Brandi Bolt, Janna Hemstreet, Christina Osterwalder
Fruitland Intermediate: Kaliyah Kibler, Kacie Robinson, Andrea Urban
Fruitland Primary: Kellie Harvey, Kristin Vance, Mary Workman
Glen Avenue Elementary: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Anna Krider
James M. Bennett High: Jared Cooper, Jamie Eakin, Garrett Magaha
Mardela Middle & High: Kelly Dorman, Brooke Lohr, Alexis Willing
North Salisbury Elementary: Richard Dickson, Jessica Hanes, Madeline Naumann
Northwestern Elementary: Charlie Echard, Sarah Mason, Tangee Wilson
Parkside High: Ronald Bose, Kelly Hartman, Mollie Schoenfelder
Pemberton Elementary: Erin Lukas, Heather McDonough, Marsha Rickards
Pinehurst Elementary: Amanda Banks, Katie Byrne, Robert Nevrly
Pittsville Elementary & Middle: Kristina Hudson, Stephanie McCoy, Lindsay Smack
Prince Street Elementary: Mary Higgins, Adele Madanat, Stephanie Mills
Salisbury Middle: Lisa Blagus, Brittany Ellis, Heidi Hershey
West Salisbury Elementary: Aja Cunningham, Lauren Gilmore, Amy Mitschke, Shannon Shultie
Westside Intermediate: Kara Watson
Westside Primary: Mary Hammond, Danielle Thompson, Dionte Weldon
Wicomico High: Danielle Glenn, Emma Cohn Matthews, Mary Messler
Wicomico Middle: Jose Castillo, Debbie Holland, Bettina Postles, Jessica Terrell
Willards Elementary: Carolyn Check, Lauren Hudson, Jamie Spears
Special Programs:
(Each of these teachers in a quarterfinalist as well as the Teacher of the Year for their program.)
Birth to Five: Cara Kurtz
Choices Academy: Brittney Bedair
English Language Support Center: Andrew Jung
Virtual Learning: Barbara Farrell
